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Hot on the heels of cutting 900 jobs at its Flat Rock facility near Detroit, Ford has announced better news for its Cleveland plant; a US$155-million investment and 60 jobs added, all in the name of the new variable cam V-6 for the 2011 Mustang. The new-tech lump boasts a touted 30 miles per gallon and 305 horsepower.
Ford says the upgrade to the Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 brings the company’s investment to $1.8 billion to support its 2011 vehicle launches — with more promised — and the total number of jobs added as 1,260. The new Mustang engine is one of nine new or upgraded engines or transmissions for 2011 model Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.
“Ford is absolutely committed to delivering class-leading fuel efficiency with every new vehicle we introduce, and this investment in Cleveland provides further proof,” said Bill Russo, director of manufacturing for Ford’s powertrain operations.
Hitting showrooms this spring, the 2011 Ford Mustang’s V-6 is an all-aluminum dual-overhead cam (DOHC), 3.7-liter Duratec 24-valve engine which, coupled to the six-speed automatic transmission delivers a projected 30 mpg on the highway.
“Mustang is completely transformed with this new engine,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice-president for Global Product Development. “Everything people love about the car is still there and now under the hood is a V-6 engine that uses premium technology to deliver the power, the feel, the fuel efficiency, even the sound of the best sports coupes in the world.”
Also available for the 2011-model year are the Mustang GT – with an all-new 5.0-liter V-8 delivering 412 horsepower and projected unsurpassed highway mileage of 25 mpg – and a no-compromises Shelby GT500 powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 and 550 horsepower. The 5.0-liter engine will be built at Ford’s Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario, while the Shelby’s heart comes from Ford’s Romeo, Mich., Engine Plant.
Engine Plant Retooled
Ford projects the V-6 engine will represent two-thirds of Mustang’s volume this calendar year. The Cleveland investment includes $121 million in manufacturing investment at the plant, developing and retooling the plant’s flexible manufacturing systems in the assembly and component (cylinder block, head and crankshaft) areas.
“The Cleveland Engine Plant is not only building fuel-efficient engines for some of our most popular Ford products, it’s becoming a hub for the future of Ford powertrains,” Russo said. “This facility has the flexibility and the expertise to help us meet customer demands for fun, fuel-efficient vehicles, and it represents the future of advanced manufacturing in North America.”
The investment at Cleveland Engine Plant is supported by Ford’s green partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, and the plant is one of 11 Ford facilities in the U.S. participating in the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentives Program initiated by Congress and implemented by the Obama administration. The program’s aim is to develop advanced-technology vehicles and strengthen American manufacturing across the country, and it is also supported by Ford’s state and local government partners primarily through training funds.
The investment represents the latest in Ford’s ongoing commitment to the Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1. Opened in 1951 as Ford’s first engine plant in Ohio, the facility has produced more than 35 million engines.
Powertrains New or Upgraded
Representing $1.8 billion worth of investment in engineering and facilities, Ford is introducing nine new or upgraded powertrains in North America for its 2011 model vehicles, including:
6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine for the F-Series Super Duty
6.7-liter Power Stroke Diesel for the F-Series Super Duty
6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift® automatic transmission for the F-Series Super Duty
3.7-liter Ti-VCT V-6 engine for the Mustang
5.0-liter Ti-VCT V-8 engine for the Mustang
Six-speed automatic transmission for the Mustang
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